Apr 30 1963
From The Space Library
NASA launched two Deacon-Judi meteorological sounding rockets from Coopers Island, Bermuda, first in series of tests "to measure atmospheric winds and density at altitudes above conventional balloon level up to about 300,000 feet." Data from these tests would be used in support of AEC experiment to be launched by NASA four-stage Scout vehicle from Wallops Island, Va., on planned re-entry south of Bermuda, objective of such experiment being to obtain test data on designing nuclear space re- actor to break apart and disintegrate upon atmospheric re-entry. (Wallops Release 63-43)
Contract award for two Apollo mission simulators, for training astronauts from launch through lunar orbit and return to earth, was announced by NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. Link Div. of General Precision, Inc., was selected by North American Aviation's Space Systems Div. to develop and install the two spacecraft simulators, one at MSC in Houston and one at Atlantic Missile Range. (MSC Release 63-79)
Stephen J. Grillo, Director of NASA Headquarters' Administrative Services since 1960, died. In speech reprinted in the Cong. Record, William O. Bennett, VP for research and engineering of the Bulova Watch Co., cited 145 examples of "technological fallout" from space research that have been produced in consumer byproducts. He also pointed to the development. of the. electronic timepiece (not, developed in ace research) powered by a mercury cell which was used in four families of satellites. (CR, 4/30/63, A2595-96)
Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman of AEC, testifying before Senate Committee on Aeronautical and Space Sciences, said "We expect other space nuclear power units (the SNAP devices) to be available to provide continuing life support power for bases on the moon and orbiting space stations, power for unmanned missions to other planets, solar probes, or other missions using ion propulsion, and surveillance and communications satellites of any size or power range. "Therefore, our programs in space nuclear power units are directed toward the development of nuclear units varying in power capacity from a few watts to megawatts, varying m operational lifetimes from several days to several years, and varying in weight from less than five pounds to over a thousand _pounds. . " Also testifying were Harold B. Finger, Director of NASA Nuclear Systems and Manager of Joint AEC-NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion Office; Richard L. Kirk, SNAP Program Director, AEC; and Dr. Frank K. Pittman, Director of AEC Division of Reactor Development. (Transcript)
House Committee on Science and Astronautics' Subcommittee on Applications and Tracking and Data Acquisition resumed hearings on NASA FY 1964 budget authorization, with testimony by Dr. Joseph V. Charyk, President of Communications Satellite Corp., and Leo D. Welch, Chairman. Asked whether ComSat Corp. would conduct its own R&D or depend upon NASA-sponsored research, Mr. Welch said, "We plan to do both. We plan to contract for design studies, [and we obviously plan to take advantage of the work done by NASA." Mr. Welch said space communications system may link U.S., Europe, Japan, and Latin America by 1967. Dr. Charyk said ComSatCorp. expected initial planning to take about a year and development of hardware about another three years. (NASA Leg. Act. Rpt. II/63; AP, Wash. Eve. Star, 5/1/63)
DOD announced U.S. would deploy ICBM's at rate of one a day during rest of 1963. Announcement came as 100th Minuteman site was turned over to SAC at Malmstrom AFB, Mont. (DOD Release 612-63)
USAF fired Minuteman ICBM from underground silo at Vandenberg AFB "with complete success," fourth successful firing of Minuteman from West Coast in past four weeks. (non Release 616-63; UPI, Wash,. Post, 5/1/63)
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